Resource Hacker is a great tool that allows you to manually edit .exe file information, such as version number, company name and icon. ResHack is also used for malicious reasons, including editing viruses to make them look like legitimate programs.

In this article, I’m going to briefly show you how to modify executable files, and how to change their icons. First of all, download ResHack using the link below.

Download ResHack

Editing Executable File Information

After installing ResHack, open it.

Drag a .exe into the window to edit it.

To begin editing information like the file version etc., navigate to the Version Info folder and click on the script located inside.

Edit whatever details you want, and then click on Compile Script at the top.

Now that’s done with, it’s time to change the file’s icon.

Changing the Executable’s Icon

In the menu at the top, click on Action and select Replace Icon.

A box should pop-up with the icon (or, in my case, icons) stored inside the executable. Replace any one of them by:

1. Click on Open File with New Icon.

2. Select the file which contains the icon(s) you’d like to use for your new file.

3. Highlight the icon you’d like to use and click on Replace.

Finally, save your new file to your computer by going to File > Save As, or by just pressing Ctrl + S on your keyboard.

Here’s a comparison between the original file and my modified one: